Vman Reviews - The Gen 2 Mini Mover for your caravan, camper, boat or trailer - with 550W of power!
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- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
- In this episode I run through what this handy little 12v, motorised jockey wheel mover is all about. We also explore the 550 watts can and can't do, if you happen to be looking for one of these!
As a budget option to provide some power assist, this works great. It does have some limitations however so it will not suit all buyers or any location. Primarily suited to reasonably level, smooth surfaces I think it will work for most people who own a single axle caravan or camper - it is even handy for the boat or box trailer.
If you need to move your camper or caravan on grass or a steep slope this probably isn't for you. Also if you have a tandem axle caravan - I do some tests with our Jayco Journey along with our Swan.
To help you out we have also broken into chapters so you can skip through to what section you need to watch:
00:00 Introduction
01:30 What is it?
06:51 Components & Initial thoughts
12:13 Installation & Setup
15:53 Test 1 Flat ground
16:19 Test 2 - Grass and soft ground
19:18 Test 3 - Sharp lips
20:07 Test 4 - Tandem axle caravan
22:22 Conclusion & Closing thoughts
We hope you enjoy this, thanks for watching and as we always say - get out there, stay safe and have fun!
#workliveplay
#wlp
#jayco
#caravanmods
#youtuber
#jaycoaustralia
Great video mate. Good balance of info without waffling on, which is rare!
By far the best review on the mini mover.
Well done mate, because of your review I just purchased one of these mini movers, by far one of the best CZcams videos I have seen, thank you :)
Great review. Thank you. The knees are giving out as age catches up making it just that little more difficult to get the boat out. Really appreciate it and will certainly look at purchasing one. Cheers. 🙂
Hi mate . Never watched your videos before, just subscribed. Really enjoyed your honesty on your review. Great job. I can now see what the product can do for me. Thanks for your help .
Thank you, you have demonstrated every scenario that I was going to test! Good video indeed.
Finally a video on this unit. Thank you! Shared with Dad.
thanks for another great review Vaughn, we have tight parking spot as well.
would be really funny to walk around the van around the corner to the caravan repair shop LOL
This has been really helpful. We have a tight section where we park the van and while I can get the van in with the car, this would allow me to get the final positioning. I do have a tandem axle, but this may still do the job.
That was a great informative video answering exactly all my questions
THANKS What a comprehensive video and operating tips
Great review Vaughn thanks for sharing Cheers.
Awesome review as usual ☺️
Great video mate. I’m going out to buy one of these on Monday.
This was an awesome review! Just subscribed too. I'm anxious to see the video you're planning to build your own. I'll keep an eye out for it.
Awesome review, thanks!
Great info mate just what I was chasing, thank you
We used ours about 12 dozen time before it sh1t itself.
Great review.
Thanks for the review, thought this may help but not good for me atm will need to look at a different way 😞 your shed is almost look like my car port I need to get into. I have 20mm each side to play so has to be perfect and also a good incline on the drive way while doing it 😂 thanks for sharing.
The problem with a single point mount on this mover is that it will DEFINITELY flex. I had installed the original one supplied on my caravan A frame and just before a trip from SA to WA the mount flexed and broke the welds done for it and dropped the whole front of the caravan down on top of the mover mount. No damage to the mover and my feet were not under it. Note to everybody; stand clear of being under the A frame, as it will do a lot of damage to you if it drops.
I had no option but to carry a garage floor jack with the caravan to maneuver it onto the Patrol tow bar. At the first Port of call, I found a caravan repairer who welded another single point mount (the other one was totally f***ed) and I continued on my way.
When I got home from this travel I managed to get a double mount and totally weld the back plate onto the A frame as well as a square tube making up the rest of the height of the plate, now making it IMPOSSIBLE for the back plate to flex. The A frame will flex before the back plate of the mount will!!
There is still some flex possible with the double mount however, as the single handle is the only part that holds the movable plate onto the baseplate (I wish it had 2 handles or bolts on the moveable plate to secure the post at 2 points), but no one makes such an animal. Now that these mods have been done it will move and park my 22ft caravan into a very tight space with little effort on my part.
I have also changed the power cable to include an Anderson Plug. Works very well for the price, would be far greater out of pocket than alternatives, and it's small enough to store away in the front bin of the caravan when travelling.
Outstanding
Great review thx mate. Saves me wasting my money 👍 Need something heavy duty.
Thanks. When, how and why the machine fails are the really useful parts. I wanted to see its limitations.
Maaate!!! Brilliant video. Really appreciate the variety of scenarios you were able to run-it thru. I have yet to drop any cash onthis type of unit as i was unsure about it's ability to handle inclines. I would be really keen to see a project build on diy version and see if you can improve on whats already out there. I too, cannot undestand why there is such a price gap between the few hundred dollars to the thousands ? Again great video, and keep up the good work.
These are cheap because they have cheap steel in the gears and will break after a few times. We used ours about 12 dozen time before it sh1t itself.
Well done. The vehicle pos stands maybe good for concrete BUT wondering if dropping tyre pressure right down on one axle would help elsewhere .???
Great video. Can you provide a link to the bracket that you suggest to attach mini mover. Thanx
W L P.....Thought about putting an electric winch with a remote control on the back wall of your shed..and buy a better jockey wheel (Ark Off-Road 8in Double Jockey Wheel) and make it
removable to also use it on the journey cheap option.
Great vid, thanks.
My handle has a little play where they are joined, that normal?
I have one to move my 2500kg car transporter trailer. It is very easy and convenient to use and with plenty of torque works well on tarmac and concrete surfaces however, due to the small wheel / tyre it does not operate successfully on shingle loose surfaces nor on wet grass.
Hey Chris. Have you had any problems with it so far? Thanks
I was wondering do you think if you had a couple people pushing the van while you used jockey wheel it would have made it into the shed easily? My problem is we can’t reverse our boat or camper in our back yard we have to push it. We have a lip/slight incline I wondered if we pushed if it would help as well?
Great video!
How much does your trailer weigh in lbs?
I know you mentioned approximately 7 degree slope is what it’s rated for. Would it be able to push a 1.5tonne van up a standard suburban driveway. Not sure what the slope is but then up into a flat driveway?
Is it able to break down to hill (10-15% slope)? In both direction
Good review..On a tandam axle you could put 1 set of wheels on a dolly wheel...
Which side and which wheel? Need to move my van into a tight space with the mini mover and worried about the sharp turn with the tandem.
@@wesleyloots9981 Either the 2 front or 2 back...My choice would be the back set so your hand brake would still work..
@@peterbeadman5115 thanks Peter
Can you recommend a dual clamp holder and where to find one?
Can you leave it attached whilst towing?
How does it work in rought sloupes? Can it provide breaking or is it only for flat asfalt surfaces?
What I can’t seem to find out is how these movers will manage on a (soft) grassy surface.
What on that phaser would go bad?
Hi, Just wondering if you know if you can replace the wheel if the tread wears down? I’ve had mine for a few years and the tread has started to wear down. Thanks
Hi Mate,which battery are you using?I just purchased one drypower deep cycle power 36ah from batteryworld.I'm totally new to this.
Do you think that would be enough or maybe I need to go over like 50 or 80 ah?
Thanks in advance
Hi mate, awesome work as usual. Do recon this unit would work in an incline concrete drive with an eagle outback?
I wish he would have replied to this. I know he said 7 degrees but!
Hi mate, Great video. How do you think this Gen2 would perform with a jetski on a trailer. Approx weight 600kg
Well presented, a large dual axle caravan is obviously too heavy for this mover, it was leaving a fair bit of rubber behind, the tyre life expectancy would not be too long. But for the Jayco pop top weight it looked ideal.
I've been using the mover quite a bit. It's great with the camper. On the Journey it does work well to move backwards and forwards and shuffle across slightly but it's not up to the task of overcoming the frictional force of two tyres on either side.
Someone mentioned they had been using one with a pneumatic tyre which worked well as opposed to the solid rubber one, however I've never come across one like this in the lower price range 👍
@@WorkLivePlay I may even investigate the Inflatable tyre option or alter it so I can fit one.
can you buy one in the UK
Great review. These model movers are sold under lot of different brand names so look carefully at pictures and shop around.
I bought one of these to move 1000kg caravan. Power isn't issue, its traction. Really only good on flat hard surfaces. Won't pull trailer up gentle slope as not enough weight on wheel, but OK pushing as wheel is on downhill side. If using on any slope would recommend roping trailer to fence post or car just in case it gets away on you. Ended up selling it and fitting motormovers, downside is 35kg payload penalty, upside they are awesome.
With lighter trailer eg 500kg boat might work bit better on grass. If you want to use small battery to power it I'd suggest motorbike starter battery these can deliver high currents needed.
Caravan motormovers have few other bonuses when touring. Can rotate van and place it on pitch facing forwards for better views, privacy or having door on preferred side. Placing on tight pitch, especially where there is no room for tow vehicle to manoeuvre. Reversing onto pitch in dark, you can get out and view it from rear while maneuvering as bonus good marriage saver. While I've not encountered the last one sure it will happen eventually, doing Uturn on tight deadend street.
100% safety is critical with anything heavy especially on a slope. A lot have had success on grass however our sand is far too soft and loose, it's a problem we have, even trying to keep the grass alive.
I've been using it a fair bit to manoeuvre both on flat ground. Works extremely well with the camper, the larger Journey I can't move by myself so it does come in handy to shuffle backwards and forwards.
the wheel might be a little bigger
the price, please ?
I think you’re being a bit hard on this little mover. I think if you had tried to move your trailer on that grass with a standard jockey wheel you would of got stuck a lot sooner and If you read the instructions it says it’s not suitable for twin axle trailers ! However if you raise the jockey wheel to get the load off the front wheels it would of easily turned your camper on that concrete. I think for the money it’s a good buy.
Gen 2 mini mover
These are great to mover a small van/load on flat hard surfaces. They will not push a van up the lay back from a road gutter. They will not push / pull vans/loads over any small obstacle.
The gearing in ours failed after about a dozen times and now it is a useless.
Do not expect much from these mini-movers.
It anyone a spare motor etc for they min-mover, let me know.
Have you thought about powering this with 18v Milwaukie cordless battery?
Actually no I haven't but that's potentially a brilliant idea!! I use a 12v lithium these days but you do have me thinking now 🤔😁
Price?
Having lowered the front of the van to take the load of the rear wheels, is not a good idea, as this is then effectively reducing the ball weight or in this case, the weight on the movers wheel. Elevating the front of the van would increase the weight on the movers wheel thus giving more traction. I have the same machine and it works effectively with my dual axle 20ft van tare weight 2.5 ton
We've had ours for about 3 months and have used it maybe 6 times to move our 1.4 tonne camper trailer on relatively flat road surfaces..
I noticed today that a worrying grinding noise is coming from it.
Sounds like the gears are chewing themselves up.
I suspect they aren't made to last.
Is it still holding up?
@@TheRealEstateHunterInc I've used it 3 times since then for short manoeuvres. It's still going ok but I'm about to strip it down and see what's causing the grinding sound. I may re-make some parts in better material if possible. It certainly is a handy device.
@@garysheppard4028 plastic gears?
@@annpeerkat2020 I tried to take it apart but the screws holding the main body case are super tight. I might have got them off with an impact driver but I didn't want to take the chance on breaking anything. So if, and until, it malfunctions I won't disassemble it. If it does break I'll strip it down and see just what it's made of. I suspect the gears are metal (it sounds like metal from the grating/crunching sounds).. But there's metal and then there's metal. If it breaks and I judge it worthwhile I might try to get the broken parts re-made in proper metal that won't break. It's such a handy thing that if at all feasible I'd like it to last a long time. Time will tell.
@@annpeerkat2020 "Steel" gears, however not best steel for gearing
An excellent and comprehensive video with clear explanations and great editing. My only suggestion is to make your intro/title sequence shorter and (I know it a matter of taste), ditch the guitar rock theme music for something less raucous.
you can just tap the right arrow key, and it will solve your intro woes.
You need to reply to the questions mate. We take the time to come look at your video it would be nice to see answers to questions.
Thank you for the upload
do not bother unless you have a light weight van or camper
So no good for a 2.7 tonne 18 foot single axel family van on flat concrete doing a 40 meter run downt he side of the house to the shed. So i wouldnt expect it to make it up a curb either. Seen a seller showing a vidoe of them using one of these on a big Van in a caravan park but the vidoe stoped just as they hit the edge of the grass, as with any 8 inch single jockey wheel it usually bites into any soft surfaces wen you havs any sort of weight on it.
Stop smiling when you're talking it looks weird
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